Drying tray



G. F. HAUF DRYING TRAY Jan. 24, 1933.

Filed Aug. 13. 1930 v A Jfwm@ l 'eofqf/aaf /g MW, M?-

Patented e, Jan. 24, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE encuen Ir. HAUT, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoa ro CHICAGO METAL Irre. oo., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, `n CORPORATION or ILLINOIS DRYING TRAY Application led August 13, 1930. Serial No. 474,989.

tachment to the table of hides in stretched My invention relates to dr ingtrays. It

will be explained as embodie ina tray particularly adapted for the drying of hides and the like although it may ave a variety 'of other uses.

One of the objects of my invention isthe provision of a tray which is of rugged construction so that it will withstand long and continuous usage without damage or` deterioration and which is adapted to be stacked I with many other similar trays for the drying of hides and the like in a kiln.

A further object of the invention' is the provision of'a tray of the character specified which is so constructed that it affords direct contact of circulating air to both sides of the material thereon and which facilitates the attachment thereto and detachment therefrom of hides land the like to be dried.,

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear. l

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a number of trays arranged in a stack; 4

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of a tray shown partly in section to more clearly illustrate my invention; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section through a portion of the drying element or table and through one of the spacing members of a tray, showing a portion of an adjacent tray in broken lines to illustrate how the spacing member holds adjacent trays separated.

In general, my improved drying tray comprises a foraminous fiat table or drying element and a plurality of leg-like spacing members attached thereto and vwhich serve to support the table in spaced relation from any platform or from other similar trays. f

The table or drying element 11 is preferably formed of a sheet of relatively heavy gauge metal provided with a large number of perforations or apertures 12 through which air may readily circulate and thereby have direct contact not only with the Aupper surface but also with the lower surface of a hide 13 which is suppported thereon to be dried. The apertures or foramina 12'may also be utilized, in some such manner asl in a position, shape. and condition of stretch in which it is desired to have it dry and become set.

The edges o'f the. table are bent downwardly to form relatively deep reinforcing flanges 17. These flanges preferably have their lower margins return bent into folds 18 whIch provide a smooth lower surface 19 by .which the trays maglbe readily handled.

Each corner of the ta e or drying element is provided with a leg-like su port and spacing member 21 of angular fp ianges 17in the region of the corners. Thus the flanges 17, where the approach a` corner of the table, are secure y tied together by thespacing members 21, each of which includes an angular vertical ange portion 22A secured to the .flanges 17, preferabl by spot welding. at 23. Each of these legike spacing members, which is preferably formed from sheet metal, has its mid-portion bent .inwardly 'to provide an upper shoulder 25, an inwardly offset vertical spacer section 26, a lower angular inverted shoulder 27 and a lower flange 28. The lowerI flange 28 is parallel to and slightly outwardly offset from the plane of` upper flange 22 so as to receive Within it the upper flange 22 ofa tray therebelow. Thus the upper flange and shoulder 22-25 serve to reinforce and strengthen the Orm to embrace corner of the tray, to carry the table or dry- Y ing member thereof and to facilitate the attachment of the table to the spacing member;` the lower flange and shoulder 28-27 serve to form a socket for the reception of the top of a lower tray whereby the trays are guided in the stacking operation and, in effect, nested in such la way that lateral shifting is prevented and the rigidity and stability of a stack is insured; and the intermediate spacing section 26 insures the desired spacing between trays to afford proper circulation ofthe drying medium. y

Unless the tray is of large size or the weight tobe carried thereby'is excessive or thin gage metal is employed, four support` ing-spacin members, one at each corner, will usually s ce. But if additional members are required or desired one or more spacing members 31 intermediate the corners may be provided. These intermediate members are of identical. construction to' those for the corners except that they are not angular in the sensev of passing around a corner but are shaped as illustrated for the purpose of bein secured on the fian'ges 17 at intermediate points.

It will be understood by those skilled 1n the art that various modifications may be made in the drying tray as illustrated in the d rawing without departing from the spirit of my invention and I desire therefore to avail myself of such modifications as come within the sco e of the appended claims.

I claim as myinvention:

1. A drying tray comprisingv a sheet metal drying element, said element including relatively wide reinforcing flanges on the edges thereof bent out of the plane of the drying element, spacing members adapted to support the tray on and in spaced relation to an adj acent tray, said spacing members comprising a' vertical portion fixed to the face of said reinforcing fiange, an offset shoulder engaging the edge thereof for supporting the same, a spacing portion, a bearingportion adapted to rest on the margin of a similarv drying tray, and an offset guide" portion de pending from said bearing portion.

49. A drying tray comprisinga sheet metal drying element, said element including 'relatively wide reinforcing flanges on the edges `thereof bent out of the plane of the drying element, spacing members fixed to said drying element about the mar ins thereof and adapted to engage the drying surface of a like adjacentI tray and hold the trays in 45' spaced relation, said spacing members comprising a vertical portion fixed to the face of said reinforcing flange, an offset shoulder engaging the edge thereof for supporting the same, a spacing portion, a bearing portion vadapted to rest `on the margin of a similar drying tray, and an offset guide portion depending from said bearing portion.

`3. A drying tray comprising a sheet metal drying element, said element including rela- 'tively wide reinforcing flanges on the edges thereof bent 'out of the plane ofthe drying element, returnbent flanges on the first said flanges, and the means for spacing the tray from the drying surface of a like adjacent tray, said spacing members comprising a vertical portion fixed to the face of said reinforcing Bange, an offset shoulder engaging the edge thereof for supporting the same, a

spacing ortion, a bearing portion adapted to rest on t e margin of a similar drying tray,

and an offset guide portion depending from Y the edge thereof for supporting the same, a spacing portion, a bearing portion adapted to f rest on the margin of asimilar drying-tray, and an offset guide portion depending from said bearing portion.

5. A drying tray for hides and the like comprising a sheet metal drying element havapertures therein for permitting the cirariv in culation of air therethrough, said drying ele- Y ment including marginal reinforcing flanges depending therefrom, and spacing members adapted to support the tray on `and in'spaced relation to a like adjacent tray, said spacin members comprising a vertical portion fixe to the face of said reinforcing fiange, an offset l shoulder engaging the edge thereof for supporting the same, a spacing portion', a bearing portion adapted to rest on the margin of a similar drying tray, and an offset guide portion depending from said bearing portion.

6. A drying tray for hides and the like comprising a sheet metal drying element having apertures therein for permitting the circulation of air therethrough, saidl drying element including marginal reinforcingfianges depending therefrom, return bent fianges on the edges of the first said fianges, means for spacing the tray from the drying surface of v an adjacent tray, said spacing members comprising a vertical portion fixed to the face of said reinforcing flanges, an offset shoulder engaging the edge thereof for supporting the same, a spacing portion, a bearing portion adapted to rest on the margin of a similar drying tray, and an offset guide portion depending from said bearing portion.

7. A drying tray comprising a substantially flat drying element; and supporting and. spacing members at each corner of the drying element, each said member including an angular upper flange embracing the corresponding corner of the drying element, an angular lower fiange parallel to'and outwardly spaced from the upper flange to einbra-ce an upper fiange of an adjacent lower tray, a spacer section parallel to and inwardly spaced fromthe upper and lower flanges, and upper and lower shoulders connecting the spacer section to the upper and lower anges respectively,l the upper shoulder serving as a seat for its associated drying with the upper and lower flanges respecelement and the lower shoulder serving as a seat for supporting the tray on an ad1acent lower tray.

. 8. A drying tray c'omprising asubstantially at foraminous metallic drying element; and supporting and spacing members at corners of the drying element, each said member being formed from a single piece of metal and including an angular upper flange embracing -the corresponding corner of the drying element, an angular lower flange parallel to and outwardly spaced from the upper ange to embrace an upper flange of an adjacent lower tray, a spacer section parallel` to and inwardly spaced from the l upper and lower flanges, and upper and lower shoulders interconnecting the spacer section tive1y,the upper shoulder serving as a seat for its associated drying element and the lower shoulder serving as a seat for supporting the tray on an adjacent lower tray.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 29th daof Jul 1930.

G ORG F. HAUF. 

